New research may lead to potatoes that are less reliant on nitrogen fertilizers

Because nitrogen fertilizers contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are looking for ways to modify agricultural plants so that they rely on less nitrogen. In research published in New Phytologist, investigators have found that blocking a particular protein may achieve this goal in potatoes.

The protein, called Solanum tuberosum CYCLING DOF FACTOR 1 (StCDF1), binds to DNA and plays a key role in regulating tuberization in potatoes. In this latest research, investigators found that StCDF1 modulates nitrogen-related gene expression. Blocking StCDF1 improved plant performance in low nitrogen environments.

"Natural variation in StCDF1 binding to the single potato NITRATE REDUCTASE gene emerges as a promising strategy to reduce potato needs of nitrogen fertilizers, as this gene encodes a limiting step for nitrate reduction and later assimilation," said co–corresponding author Salomé Prat, Research Professor, of the Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics, in Spain.